Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) guards New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (3) during Game 4 of their first-round playoff series in New Orleans. / Gerald Herbet/AP

The New Orleans Hornets out-New Orleans-ed the Los Angeles Lakers 93-88 Sunday night to even the series at two games apiece and guarantee another playoff game in the city on Thursday night.

So what if that's also the same night of the NFL Draft and the eve of the Jazz Fest.

Just when it looked like the Lakers would not have to see New Orleans again, the Hornets made their first significant run of the series in the Central time zone. Trailing 45-37 at the three-minute mark of the second quarter, New Orleans hit a high note by outscoring the Lakers 12-0 to close the first half and take a 49-45 lead. The Lakers got back in the game, but they were never in control again and trailed by 79-71 midway in the fourth period. Twice they were within two in the final moments but could not overcome the Hornets' late first half attack.

Then Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers hit center court right on cue at halftime, and it was basically over. Chris Paul and Kermit were way too much for Kobe Byrant, who was scoreless in the first half. He got his team back in the game with 14 in the third period, but he left limping.

Game 5 will be in Los Angeles Tuesday with Game 6 in New Orleans Thursday.

Amazingly, Paul and Bryant were both scoreless with 2:27 to play in the first half as the Lakers tried to hang on to a 45-41 lead. Paul was busier than Bryant, though, feeding his teammates, and he finished the first half with a game-high nine assists.

After Emeka Okafor rebounded on the offensive side for New Orleans and fed Marco Belinelli for a layup to cut the Lakers' lead to 45-43 with 1:47 to play in the half, it was the Chris versus Kobe show. With 1:04 to play and Paul at the top of the key with the ball, the other eight cleared out.

There was a dramatic pause as Paul dribbled and stared down Bryant. The crowd sensed the dramatic moment. Then Paul took off and easily beat Bryant, who will never by Michael Jordan on defense, for his first points of the game on a layup to tie the score at 45. Paul trash talked to Bryant's face, and the officials took up for the league's darling. Paul drew a technical, but Bryant missed the free throw to the delight of the second straight sellout crowd.

Paul drew a foul with 45 seconds left and hit both free throws for the Hornets first lead since 2-0 at 47-45. Then with 1.1 seconds to go, Paul fed Okafor for a slam dunk and a 49-45 lead. The 12-0 run was complete. It was time for Kermit. L.A. was on New Orleans time.

For a while in the first quarter, the Hornets channeled their inner LSU baseball team and looked sick on offense as in their losses on Friday and Wednesday.

Paul was scoreless in the first quarter and through the first 11 minutes of the second quarter, but he finished with 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds.

Midway through the opening period, the Lakers took a 15-6 lead and it looked like New Orleans had played its last game at home this season.

But out of nowhere came forward Trevor Ariza, who scored 10 points over the final five minutes of the period and finished with 12 in the quarter after averaging just 11 on the season. He had 16 at the half.

The Hornets were within 25-22 entering the second period. Then, also out of nowhere for New Orleans, arrived Aaron Gray, a stiff who averaged 3.1 points a game in the season. He had seven in the first half. There was obviously something in the air.